⚫ After the death of his grandfather, Muhammad was reared by his uncle, Abu
RS REVIEWER
Jahiliyyah Period: Arabs before Islam
⚫ The word Jahiliyah originated from Arabic root word ‘jahala’ and its
derivatives, ‘jahalun’ and ‘jahalatun’ which mean ‘lacking of knowledge’
and ‘astray’.
From the Qur’an, the jahiliyyah people is mentioned by any of these four
characteristics:
i) No prophecies and revelation (guidance)
ii) No civilization
iii) The peoples have no good manner
iv) Referred as jahiliyyah because of illiteracy
Summary
Jahiliyyah is the period before Islam where the people live in ignorance
where there is neither prophecies nor revelations to guide them. Their lifestyle is
limitless and no rules. In general, this period started after the destruction of
Kingdom of Saba’ until the prophecies of Muhammad SAW revealed.
BIRTH OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD
⚫ Muhammad was born on 12th Rabi-ul Awwal (‘amul fil, the year of
elephant), 53 years before Hijrah, and 20th of August 570 A.C.
⚫ His father, Abdullah bin Abdul Mutallib bin Hashim had died while on
business trip to Madinah, three or six months before the birth.
⚫ His mother, Amina binti Wahab bin ‘Abdimanaf bin Zuhrah informed his
grandfather Abdul Mutallib about Muhammad’s birth.
⚫ His grandfather took the baby to the Ka’abah and first thanked God for that
gift. He then prayed for the baby’s future and gave him the name
“Muhammad”, which literally means “the highly praised”.
⚫ But his mother, Amina named him “Ahmad” which means “more
praiseworthy”, because she was advised in a dream to give the baby that
name.
PROPHET MUHAMMAD CHILHOOD
⚫ Muhammad was born as an orphan.
⚫ Before finding a nurse,Muhammad was breast fed for several days by his
own mother, Amina and by Thuwaibah, the girl servant of his uncle Abu
Lahab.
⚫ One of the nurses was Halimah Sa’diyah bint Abi Zuwaib. She and her
husband, Harith bin Abdul Uzza, made the journey from their village to
Makkah on a female-ass along with an aged female camel.
⚫ Halimah and her husband brought Muhammad to their village outside the
city of Makkah.
⚫ According to the custom, Halimah took Muhammad back safely to his
mother, Amina at the end of the nursing period.
⚫ So Halimah brought back Muhammad to her village until he reach the age
of five years.
B. Muhammad at an early age became doubly orphaned.
⚫ He lost his father, Abdullah, when he was not yet born.
⚫ His father left for him only 5 camels, several goats and one girl .
⚫ Servant by the name of “Ummu Aiman” who faithfully took care of him at
his tender age.
⚫ Before he reached the age of six, his mother, Amina made a journey to
Yathrib (Madina) and brought Muhammad with her accompanied by Ummu
Aiman.
⚫ The purpose of the journey was to meet the relatives of Bani Najjar his
grandfather, Abdul Mutallib and to visit the
⚫ grave of his father, Abdullah.
⚫ In coming home, at ‘Abwa’, a place which was about 23 miles from the
south of Madina, his mother became sick and died.
⚫ She was buried in that place.
⚫ Thereafter, Ummu Aiman brought Muhammad back to Makkah and took
care of him.
⚫ Thereafter, Muhammad was brought up by his grandfather, Abdul Mutallib,
who loved him very much more than his own children.
⚫ As head of the Quraish tribe, Abdul Mutallib had a special place beside the
Ka’aba and nobody could occupy that place with him except his grandson,
Muhammad, who was always with him.
⚫ When he was eight, 2 years after his mother’s death, his grandfather also
died.
⚫ On his death-bed, Abdul Mutallib confided to his son Abu Talib, the uncle
of Muhammad, to take care of the little orphan
YOUTH
Talib.
⚫ Since his uncle was a trader, Muhammad also became a trader.
⚫ When he was twelve years old, he accompanied his uncle, Abu Talib, on a
mercantile journey to Syria as far as Busra.
⚫ Busra, the Christian monk “Bahira” met Muhammad, and he said to Abu
Talib to return with the boy and guard him against the hatred of the Jews,
for a great career awaited his nephew.
⚫ He used to stitch his clothes and mend his shoes himself.
⚫ Because of his good character, his honesty, sincerity,
⚫ By common consent he received the title of “Al-Amin”, which means the
“trustworthy and the faithful”.
HIS MARRIAGE TO KHADIJAH
⚫ During his business career, Muhammad either worked as a paid employee
or engaged himself on a profit sharing basis.
⚫ It so happened that the business of his uncle, Abu Talib, received setbacks.
⚫ Muhammad was worried. Luckily, a noble and wealthy widow, by the
name of Khadijah, stood in need of an honest person who could use her
money for trade purposes.
⚫ His uncle, Abu talib advised him to accept the offer.
⚫ So Muhammad left for Syria in the company of the slave of Khadijah by the
name of Maisarah.
⚫ On return, Maisarah profusely praised Muhammad for his trading ability,
honesty and fine morality.
⚫ Khadijah was very much impressed about the honesty, goodness and
kindness of Muhammad rare qualities of a man in those days.
⚫ Then she thought of marrying him, if possible.
⚫ Khadijah proposed the marriage herself to Muhammad, which was accepted
after his uncle, especially Abu Talib, agreed to the proposal because of
Khadijah’s nobility, wealth, beauty and excellent character.
⚫ The two were married. Muhammad at that time was twenty-five years old
and Khadijah was forty, fifteen years older.
⚫ Muhammad and Khadijah both came from the same tribe of Quraish.
⚫ As stated in their ancestral lines, Muhammad was the son of Abdullah bin
Abdul Mutallib bin Hashim bin Qushai, while Khadijah was the daughter of
Khuwailid bin Asad bin Abdul Uzza bin Qushai.
⚫ Before marrying Muhammad, Khadijah was first married to Abu Hala bin
Zararah and was blessed with two sons.
⚫ After Abu Hala’s death, her second husband was Atiq bin Ayaz Mahzoomi
who bore her a daughter.
⚫ Muhammad was no longer in financial trouble. He began a period of
contentment and happy life.
⚫ Muhammad had a very happy and peaceful life with Khadijah for twenty-
five years, fifteen years before he became a Prophet and ten years after he
was honoured by prophet-hood.
⚫ It was during this period that Muhammad was chosen by Allah as the last
Prophet and it was again during the last ten years of this period that
Muhammad and his few followers were subjected to terrible tortures mental
and physical.
⚫ This happy marriage of Muhammad and Khadijah was blessed with four
daughters and two sons. The two sons died as minors.
⚫ While all the daughters reached the age of maturity, all died before the
death of Muhammad, except Fatimah, the youngest, who died six months
after the death of her father.
⚫ The Prophet had also another son from his wife Mariyah Qibtiyyah by the
name of Ibrahim, who also died as minor.
⚫ The eldest offspring of the Prophet was Al-Qasim. Therefore, he was called
Abul Qasim, the father of Qasim.
The names of their children were:
1. Al-Qasim
2. Zainab
3. Ruqayyah
4. Ummu Kalthum
5. Fatimah
6. Abdullah (known as Tayib and Tahir.)
DAUGHTERS OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD
Zainab
⚫ She was the eldest daughter of the Prophet and was born in the fifth year of
his marriage when he was thirty.
⚫ She embraced Islam and was married to her cousin Abul’as bin Rabi. Her
husband also embraced Islam and joined Zainab in Madinah.
⚫ She had a son name Ali, and a daughter name Amamah.
⚫ Ali died during the life time of the Prophet. Zainab also died in the
beginning of 8 A.H.
Ruqayyah
⚫ She was born three years after Zainab when the Prophet was thirty three.
⚫ She was married to Utbah, son of Abu Lahab.
⚫ The couple immigrated to Abyssinia twice.
⚫ A son was born to Ruqayyah in Abyssinia.
⚫ He was named Abdullah and lived after his mother but died in 4 A.H. when
he was six years old.
Ummu Kalthum
⚫ She was the third daughter of the Prophet. She was married to Utaibah, son
of Abu Lahab, but had not yet started living with him when Utaibah
divorced her as has already been mentioned.
⚫ After the death of Ruqayyah, Ummu Kalthum was also married to Usman
bin ‘Affan in Rabi-ul Awwal 3 A.H.
⚫ Usman bin ‘Affan have the title of “Dhinur ‘Ayn” which means (owner of
the two lights, by marrying the two daughters of the Prophet).
⚫ She died childless in Sha’ban 9 A.H.
Fatimah
⚫ Fatimah, the fourth and the youngest daughter of the Prophet, was born in
the first year of the mission when he was forty one.
⚫ The name Fatimah means ‘safe from fire’ was revealed by Allah.
⚫ She was the most loved daughter of the Prophet and was a model of piety
and virtue.
⚫ Her mother Khadijah died when she was ten years old.
⚫ Freed from the battle of badar, the Prophet thought of getting Fatimah
married.
⚫ Fatimah bore three sons: Hasan, Hussein and Muhsin. And three daughters:
Ruqayyah, Ummu Kalthum and Zainab. Muhsin and Ruqayyah died in
childhood, therefore, not been mentioned much in history.
FACTS
⚫ Khadijah was the first woman who embraces and accept Islam.
⚫ She was the one who supported the Prophet by all means.
⚫ Her death is known as the Year of Sorrow, same year in which the uncle’s
Prophet died, Abu Talib.
⚫ ‘Aishah, the youngest wife of Prophet was jealous to Khadijah even though
she did not see her because of the affection maintained by the Prophet for
Khadijah even after her death.
⚫ Fatimah was a look-like of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
⚫ She was very cherished and cared of his father, Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH).
⚫ She took care the Prophet very much, she didn’t leave her father whenever
got sick.
⚫ She was the one who remain alive after her siblings and died six months
after the death of her father, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
11 WIVES OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD
⚫ After Khadijah’s death, at the age of sixty five, the Prophet married again
several times, but all of them except ‘Aishah and Mariyah Qibtiyyah were
either widows or divorced.
⚫ They needed him rather than he needed them.
⚫ Some of the marriages were for cementing friendship among the different
warring tribes.
⚫ Other marriages were to give support to the widows of his companions
who died in the battles.
⚫ But whether the reason for the marriages was political or charitable, the
Prophet treated all his wives with love, respect,fairness and kindness.
⚫ He taught the world that women, rich, poor, widowed or divorced should
be respected.
1. Saudah bint Zam’ah bin Qais
⚫ She was previously married to her cousin, Sukran bin Amar. The couple
embraced Islam and immigrated to Abyssinia. Sukran died in Abyssinia.
⚫ Saudah, now, a widow returned to Makkah.
⚫ The Prophet on the death of Khadijah, in Shawwal of the same year married
to Saudah. She was quite healthy, possessing ethics and habits of a superb
standard.
⚫ The Prophet agreed to her suggestion. She bore no child and died in about
55 A.H.
2. ‘Aishah bint Abu Bakar
⚫ ‘Aishah also married to the Prophet in Shawwal of tenth year of the mission.
⚫ She was born in the fourth year of the mission and was married when she
was only six and was actually sent by his parents to live with the Prophet
after emigration to Madinah when she was nine.
⚫ The Prophet loved her so warmly and devotedly because of her intelligence,
seriousness, truthfulness, nature and beauty.
⚫ ‘Aishah was equally devoted and loving to her husband and who spent his
last days in her room where he died and buried.
⚫ ‘Aishah was eighteen at the time of the Prophet’s death. She died without a
child on the night of Tuesday, the seventeenth Ramadhan 57 A.H at the age
of sixty six.
⚫ She desired at the time of her death that she might be buried
along with other Ummahatul Mu’minin, in the public graveyard, though she
could be buried by the side of the Prophet’s grave which was in her house.
⚫ These are the marriages which the Prophet had before Hijrah. All the
remaining wives came to him in Madinah.
3. Hafsah bint Umar
⚫ She was born in Makkah five years before the mission.
⚫ She was first married to Khunais bin Huzaafah.
⚫ Hafsah had also emigrated to Madinah with her husband. Her husband’s
death came as a great shock and played on Umar’s mind heavily.
⚫ The Prophet observed it. So he himself offered to marry Hafsah.
⚫ Hafsah was a very pious woman and very much devoted to prayer.
⚫ She would often fast during the day and spend the night standing before
Allah.
⚫ Once the Prophet for some reason was displeased with Hafsah and even
pronounced the first divorce to her.
⚫ The Prophet therefore took her back. She died in Jamadil-Ula 45 A.H. at the
age of sixty three.
4.Zainab bint Khuzaimah
⚫ There are divergent reports about her previous husbands.
⚫ According to one report she was first married to Abdullah bin Jahshin who
was killed in Uhud.
⚫ According to another report she was first married to Tufail bin Al-Harith
who was killed in Badar.
⚫ The Prophet married her in Ramadhan 3 A.H. She lived with the Prophet
for eight months only as she died in Rabi-ul Akhir 4 A.H.
⚫ The Prophet himself led her funeral prayer. She was known for her
generosity and care to the poor and needy.
⚫ She was called Ummul Masakin, Mother of the poor.
⚫ Zainab and Khadijah are two wives of the Prophet who died during his
lifetime. All the other wives lived after him and died later.
5.Hindun bint Abu Umayyah
⚫ Hindun was popularly known as Ummu Salamah.
⚫ She was first married to her cousin Abdullah bin Abdil Asad known as Abu
Salamah.
⚫ The Prophet married her. Her son Salamah served as her guardian and gives
her in marriage to the Prophet.
⚫ She was married in the end of Shawwal 4 A.H.
⚫ She was the last of the Prophet wives to die. It was in 59 or 62 A.H.
⚫ She was 84 the time of her death and as such she was born 9 years before
the mission.
6. Zainab bint Jahshin
⚫ She was the Prophet’s cousin.
⚫ She was first given in marriage to the Prophet to his adopted son Zaid bin
Harithah.
⚫ When Zaid divorced her, she got married to the Prophet by Allah (SWT) as
mentioned in the Holy Qur’an.
⚫ This took place in 5 A.H. At that time she was 35 yrs of age.
⚫ She was born therefore 17 years before the mission.
⚫ She was always very proud of the fact that while all the other wives were
given in marriage to the Prophet by their guardians it was Allah himself
who-did this for her.
⚫ She died in 20 A.H. and Umar led the funeral service. She was fifty at the
time of her death.
⚫ It is important to note that the Prophet’s marriage to Zainab was to break
one of the early customs which prohibited marrying a woman who was
divorced by his adopted son.
7. Juwairiyah bint Haris
⚫ She was the daughter of Haris, the chief of Banu Mustaliq and was married
to Musafih bin Safwan.
⚫ She was one of the captives who fell to Muslim hands
after the battle of Muraisi and she was given to Thabit bin Qais.
⚫ The Prophet offered to pay her ransom, set her free and offered to take her
as his wife.
⚫ She was very glad to accept this offer. She was married to the Prophet in 5
A.H.
⚫ As a consequence of this marriage, the prisoners of Banu Mustaliq.
Juwairiyah’s tribe about a hundred families were all set free by the Muslims.
⚫ Juwairiyah was very pretty. Her face was very attractive.
⚫ She was twenty at the time of her marriage with the Prophet.
⚫ She died inRabi-ul Awwal 50 A.H. in Madinah at the age of 65.
8. Ramlah bint Abu Sufyan bin Harab
⚫ She was known as Ummu Habibah. She was first married to Ubaidullah bin
Jahshin in Makkah.
⚫ The couple embraced Islam and then emigrated to Abyssinia due to
persecution by the Quraish.
⚫ One night she saw her husband in a dream in a most ugly and obnoxious ⚫ Polygamy is allowed, though not mandatory, as a remedial measure for
form. certain situations that may arise from time to time.
⚫ The next day she came to know that he had turned Christian. ⚫ The first thing to note on this issue is that polygamy is not ordered as a
⚫ Ramlah, however, remained a Muslim and was therefore separated from general rule for all Muslims to follow. Instead, it is a provision – something
him. She was now all alone in exile. But Allah soon recompensed her loss. allowed – for special circumstances.
⚫ The Prophet sent her an offer of marriage through King Negus who sent a
woman named Ahrahah to her with the message.
⚫ The Negus then despatched Ramlah to Madinah with her dowry and other
gifts as perfume, etc.
⚫ This marriage took place in 7 A.H. Ramlah most probably died in 44 A.H.

9. Safiyah bint Hay bin Akh-tab

⚫ She was a Jewess, the daughter of Hay who was a descendant of Harun,
(A.S) the brother of Musa (A.S.).
⚫ She was first married to Salam bin Mushkam and then to Kananah bin Abi
Haqiq at the time of Khaibar.
⚫ Kananah was killed in the battle and she was captured by the Muslims..
⚫ Safiyah died in Ramadhan 50 A.H., when she was about 60.

10. Maimunah bint Harith Al-Hilali bin Hazan

⚫ Her original name was Barah but she was later renamed Maimunah by the
Prophet.
⚫ She was first married to Abu Rahim bin Abdul Uzza. Acoording to some
report she was married twice before she became Ummul Mu’minin.
⚫ She had been widowed lately when the Prophet married her at Sarat a place
lying on his journey to Makkah for Umrah in Zul Qa’dah 7 A.H.
⚫ He had intended to start living with her while he was in Makkah after
performing Umrah but as Quraish did not allow him to enter Makkah he
called her over to him in the same place on his return journey.
⚫ She later died and was buried exactly at the same place in 51 A.H. when she
was 81.
⚫ She was the last woman to be married by the Prophet.

11. Mariyah Qibtiyyah

⚫ She was a Christian from Egypt.

⚫ After conversion to Islam, she was married to the Prophet and bore a son,
Ibrahim, who died after eighteen months.
⚫ She was extremely beautiful. ‘Aishah envied her pretty hair.
⚫ She died five years after the death of the Prophet.

POLYGAMY

⚫ Marriage in Islam is a sign of God’s power and glory.

Monogamy & Polygyny

Generally speaking, there are two types of marriages in Islam:

• Monogamy- one man married to one woman;

• Limited polygyny (a kind of polygamy)- one man married to two, three or at the
most four wives.

⚫ In Islam, the ideal marriage is the monogamous form of marriage.

⚫ Limited polygyny is a provision approved by Islam for exceptional
circumstances only and that also with many stringent conditions.
⚫ Vast majority of Muslim men are monogamous in their marriage
relationships; those who have more than one wife are very few, probably
less than zero point one percent of the Muslim world.
⚫ Existed from the early dawn of human history. When Islam came on world
scene in the seventh century of the Common Era, it inherited the existing
marriage system.
⚫ Condoning of polygamy should not be seen as a piece of pure male
chauvinism.
⚫ It is to the credit of Islam that it modified and reformed the system in
existence at the time.
⚫ Firstly, of all, Islam put a limit to the numbers of wives that a person can
have at one time — maximum of four wives at one time.
⚫ Secondly, Islam put stringent conditions on a person who wanted to marry a
second wife. He must be able to provide and maintain the family, and also
deal with both on basis of justice and fairness.
⚫ Marriage is a sacred institution in Islam with very important objectives.
⚫ In most cases, the objective is achieved through monogamy. However, in
certain situations, a man is allowed to marry more than one wife, with the
condition that he treats his wives with justice, and takes the decision with
Taqwa or God Consciousness.
⚫ The idea that Islam allows polygamy so that men could pursue lust and as
an excuse to fulfill sensual desires is a far cry from what Islam actually
wishes to achieve.
⚫ Time and time again the question of polygamy in Islam is raise as a grave
issue and a big hurdle to any serious discussions about Islam.